A single session of action observation therapy versus observing a natural landscape in adults with chronic neck pain - a randomized controlled trial

A single session of action observation therapy versus observing a natural landscape in adults with chronic neck pain - a randomized controlled trial

Action observation (AO) has emerged as a potential neurorehabilitation therapy for patients with neck pain (NP), but evidence of its effectiveness is scarce. This study aims to assess the effect of a single session of AO when compared to observing a natural landscape on NP intensity, fear of movemen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMC musculoskeletal disorders Vol. 24; no. 1; p. 983
Main Authors: Al Shrbaji, Tala, Bou-Assaf, Mário, Andias, Rosa, Silva, Anabela G
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 19-12-2023
BioMed Central
BMC
Subjects:
Action observation
Acuity
Adult
Adults
Care and treatment
Causes of
Chronic pain
Chronic Pain - rehabilitation
Clinical trials
Comparative analysis
Exercise Therapy
Fear
Humans
Intervention
Likert scale
Motor imagery
Movement representation
Muscle strength
Muscles
Neck
Neck Pain
Neck Pain - rehabilitation
Nervous system
Neurology
Pain
Pain Threshold
Questionnaires
Rehabilitation
Statistical analysis
Systematic review
Tactile discrimination
Trauma
Portugal
Movement representation
Motor imagery
Action observation
Neck Pain
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Summary:Action observation (AO) has emerged as a potential neurorehabilitation therapy for patients with neck pain (NP), but evidence of its effectiveness is scarce. This study aims to assess the effect of a single session of AO when compared to observing a natural landscape on NP intensity, fear of movement, fear-avoidance beliefs, neck muscles' strength, pressure pain threshold, and tactile acuity. Sixty participants with NP were randomly allocated to the AO group (n = 30) or control group (n = 30). Both groups watched an 11-minute video: the AO group watched a video of a person matched for age and sex performing neck exercises, while the control group watched a video of natural landscapes. Neck pain intensity, fear of movement, fear-avoidance beliefs, tactile acuity, pressure pain thresholds, and neck muscle strength were assessed both at baseline and post-intervention. General linear models of repeated measures (ANCOVA of two factors) were used to explore between-group differences at post-intervention. There was a significant main effect of time for pain intensity (p = 0.02; η2p = 0.09; within-group mean change and 95% CI: AO=-1.44 (-2.28, -0.59); control=-1.90 (-2.74, -1.06), but no time versus group interaction (p = 0.46). A time versus group significant interaction was found for one out of the six measurement sites of two-point discrimination and the neck flexors strength (p < 0.05) favoring the control group. No other statistically significant differences were found for the remaining variables). Results suggest a similar acute benefit for both a single session of AO and observing natural landscapes for promoting hypoalgesia, but no impact on kinesiophobia, fear-avoidance beliefs, or pressure pain thresholds. Also, AO had no positive effect on two-point discrimination and muscle strength. Further research is needed, with longer interventions. Clinialtrials.gov (NCT05078489).
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ISSN:1471-2474
1471-2474
DOI:10.1186/s12891-023-07070-w